Army for mobilising border residents to combat terrorism in J

Jammu, Sep 24 (UNI) In a bid to combat the rising insurgency operations, the Army today said people in the bordering belts of Jammu and Kashmir are required to be mobilised and trained to counter terrorism.

''Militancy related incidents are on the rise and hundreds of terrorists across the border are waiting to sneak into the Indian Territory to disrupt the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled to be held in October-November,'' Maj Gen D L Chowdhary, GOC Tiger Division today said while addressing an Ex-servicemen rally for border areas organised by the Army's 19 Infantry Brigade at Mandal, on city outskirts.

Maj Gen Chowdhary said people in bordering belts of the state should be mobilised to fight militancy especially the ex-servicemen, who are trained to counter insurgency incidents.

''Though not only the services of ex-servicemen can be utilised to combat militancy but all bordering residents should be trained about the skills and techniques to fight terrorists,'' Maj Gen added.

He however, revealed that the firing from across the border on Line of Control (LoC) is not only the violation of ceasefire agreement but a support to push infiltrators through cover fire into the Indian Territory.

''There is a dire need to strengthen the people on border belts as militants make attempts to infiltrate through porous borders and attack the vulnerable and sensitive locations,'' Maj Gen Chowdhary asserted.

''The ex-servicemen should be more vigilant in the border areas and assist the Army and government authorities in bringing peace and harmony in the state,'' adding the GOC insisted that ex-servicemen with the talent and discipline acquired in the Army can contribute a lot in the progress of the nation.

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